Watched The Borrower Arrietty with English subs in DTS 7.1 surround BR-DVD.FroZen /Frostii subs also released two new episodes of Yawara today.Best Father's Day ever!

I'll be playing The Borrower Arrietty during my Anime Friday this week. It isn't due to hit the states till February 2012 as an English dub by Disney. It is the newest release from Studio Ghibli. If you don't want to wait that long, come by and see it with us.

I guess I shouldn't say "currently" since I technically finished it last night, but I knocked out AnoHana in about two days AND I LOVED IT SO MUCH!!! It really resonated with me in a lot of ways, the characters each have their own particular struggle that I think most people dealing with growing up can relate to. Maybe it's because I'm at an age where I'm overly nostalgic about how things were as a kid, or maybe because I've actually dealt with losses similar to that in the anime, but this series really got to me in all the best ways. <3

I haven't been able to really get into anything lately... I'll watch like an episode or two then stop and not really get back into it. The last one I watched in it's entirety was Fractle a couple months ago.

I haven't been able to really get into anything lately... I'll watch like an episode or two then stop and not really get back into it. The last one I watched in it's entirety was Fractle a couple months ago.

Yeah, I've been having this problem too...I didn't really get into any of the spring animes, except for Ano Hana. I tried watching Hana Saku Iroha and Deadman Wonderland but idk, I couldn't get into it.

But right now I started watching Tiger and Bunny and I have to say it's pretty good so far.

This is the first week for the new shows. Here are a few of the ones that have grabbed my attention:

Kamisama no Memo-chou – aka God’s Notebook. The story centers around a NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training) detective girl named Alice and her assistant, a high school freshman boy named Fujishima Narumi. This show is a definite win! We WILL be watching this.

Ikoku Meiro no Croisée - The story takes place in the second half of the 19th century, as Japanese culture gains popularity in the West. A young Japanese girl, Yune, accompanies a French traveller, Oscar, on his journey back to France, and offers to help at the family's ironwork shop in Paris. Oscar's nephew and shopowner Claude reluctantly accepts to take care of Yune, and we learn how those two, who have so little in common, get to understand each other and live together in the Paris of the 1800s. Another win. Feels sort of like Victorian Romance Emma. I look forward to the next episode. Yune encounters cheese.

Sacred Seven - In a port city within the Kantou region Tandouji Aruma lives a lonely and solitary life. One day, he is approached by Aiba Ruri who asks for his help, for the power of the Sacred Seven which resides within Aruma. However, Aruma turns her away. In the past, Aruma had hurt people with that power. Since that moment, he had foresworn it. When the peaceful city is attacked by a monster, Aruma reluctantly decides to use the Sacred Seven. However, his powers go berserk and the situation becomes even more dire. At that moment, Ruri comes to his aid. This show is actually pretty good. Unbelievable in the extreme, but still fun to watch. I like how Ruri has an entire female maid army at her disposal. She also appears to have unlimited funds. Aruma, on the other hand, is living hand to mouth as a hermit. I’ll keep watching.

Blade - Whilst pregnant with him, Blade's mother was attacked by a vampire. As a result, he was born as a "Day Walker", with a mix of vampire and human blood flowing through his veins. He possesses the superhuman strength, senses, and regenerative abilities of vampires, but not their vulnerability to sunlight. By utilizing these strengths, combined with his skills in both armed and unarmed combat, he has vanquished many vampires. Blade has now come to Japan where he is confronted by Deacon Frost, the vampire who attacked his mother. At Frost's command is "Existence", a vampire organization whose members have been modified by Frost. The newest Marvel addition. So far I am liking this one. It feels about the same as Wolverine did.

Nurarihyon no Mago: Sennen Makyou – At first glance, Nura Rikuo seems like nothing more than a normal middle-schooler. In actual fact, he is grandson of Nurarihyon, master of a youkai clan. Having only recently resolved the hostilities between the Nura Clan and the Shikoku Yokai, Rikuo finds no rest as an ancient enemy of the Nura Clan, Haguromo-Gitsune, resurfaces. After 400 years of inactivity, Haguromo-Gitsune suddenly sweeps through Kyoto with overwhelming power. THEY’RE BACK! The long awaited sequel to one of my favorite anime. The first story answers many questions I had about things from the first season, as well as refreshes all of the characters and informs us of their intent. A definite MUST SEE on my list.

Natsume Yuujinchou San - Natsume Takashi, with the help of Nyanko-sensei, continues his adventures to free spirits contracted by his grandmother Natsume Reiko in the "Book of Friends". Another series sequel from another favorite anime. I wonder if there will be anything left of the “Book of Friends” by the end of the series. I guess I’ll have to just keep watching to find out.

YuruYuri - Four fun-loving schoolgirls take over the former room of a tea ceremony club for their own "Gorakubu" (amusement club). OK, this show is the funny, slapstick, comedy, parody, sensation of the season. I felt like I was watching K-ON, A Channel, Nichijou, and Lucky Star, all blended together. It is fun to watch, if just a bit over the top.

Morita-san wa Mukuchi - Morita Mayu is a highschool girl who rarely speaks. The reason behind it is not because she doesn’t like to talk nor because she has nothing to say. The reason she rarely speaks is due to the fact she thinks too much before speaking, thus losing the timing to speak altogether. I have the OVA and the preview for this new series. I like it so far. Makes me think of another show about a girl who is misunderstood in school.

Kamisama Dolls - Kyouhei, after moving away to Tokyo from his old town to get away from the events that happened, is on a goukon with his friends, including his old neighbor, Shiba. After drinking for a whole night, he and Shiba discover a dead, bloody, body in the elevator. He is told by his younger sister, Utao with her Kamisama Doll, that Aki, an old friend, and his Doll, are the culprits responsible. (Scary music) BWA ha ha! This is the dark drama event, running against Blade for that position this season. I wasn’t sure what to think of this show, the art looks all cutesy, and the characters are lovable, but the antagonist, Aki, is a total amoral serial killer, and the village that everyone is from sounds like a fanatical religious cult. I’ll watch a few more episodes, but this one is on my wait and see list.

Kaitou Tenshi Twin Angel: Kyun Kyun Tokimeki Paradise!! - Minazuki Haruka and Kannazuki Aoi are two students at St.Cherine academy. Haruka is always filled with bubbly energy while Aoi is more mature and a top student in all her classes - but despite their differences the two are the best of friends. The two girls look like any other girls attending the academy, but the truth is they are hiding a little secret that they can't let anybody know about... During the day they really are just students at St.Cherine academy, but by night they become the Twin Angels, and fight against the evils of the town! The lovely Angels are back, and it's time for them to get ready for some action! I watched the OVA a few years ago, this is a light and fluffy magical girl show. Not really one I like. To much like Nuku Nuku TV. The writers just don’t have any imagination. The story doesn’t make any sense, geared towards a very young audience, but with fan service for an older one. This show has no idea who its target audience is.

Nyanpire The Animation - An abandoned kitty is saved by a vampire by giving him a few drops of his own blood. Granted with eternal life, Nyanpire now lives a domestic life with a girl named Misaki. This is a cute little 5 minute short series. The characters make me think of The Pinky Show for some reason.

Usagi Drop - Going home for his grandfather's funeral, thirty-year-old bachelor Daikichi is floored to discover that the old man had an illegitimate child with a younger lover! The rest of his family is equally shocked and embarrassed by this surprise development, and not one of them wants anything to do with the silent little girl, Rin. In a fit of angry spontaneity, Daikichi decides to take her in himself! But will living with this overgrown teenager of man help Rin come out of her shell? And hang on, won't this turn of events spell doom for Daikichi's love life?! This is one of the favorites for this season. I really enjoyed the first episode. Can’t wait for the next one.

Blood C - * A new original animation based on the Blood franchise and featuring popular mangaka collaboration Clamp as original character designers.Ukishima Shrine is located in an old, picturesque lakeside town. Shrine maiden Kisaragi Saya lives there along with her father, Tadayoshi. By day, she lives the life of a normal high school student at Sanbara Academy. By night, she hunts the Old Ones. Possessing supernatural physical prowess, the Old Ones prey on humans, and only Saya has the ability to defeat them. Not sure what to think of this one. It is pretty strange.

No.6 - * Based on a science-fiction novel by Asano Atsuko.The story is set in No. 6, a future model city in 2013. Raised as a top-ranking elite since the age of 2, a boy named Shion lives in an exclusive area in No. 6. On the night of his 12th birthday, he rescues a boy who calls himself Nezumi (Rat). Nezumi ran away from the city's Special Security Area. From that moment on, Shion's life is changed forever... I enjoyed the first episode. Shion and Nezumi are interesting characters. I want to see what is going to happen next.

Mayo Chiki! - Konoe Subaru is a beautiful boy who serves as a butler to a classmate named Suzutsuki Kanade. However, another boy named Sakamachi Kinjirou accidentally discovers Subaru's secret — Subaru is really a girl. This show will be fun. Has a bit of fan service in the first episode, but I don’t think it will be a regular occurrence in the series. A school romance comedy.

Uta No Prince Sama - Due to her admiration of popular idol HAYATO, Nanami Haruka dreams of becoming a music producer/composer. For this reason, she enrolls in the music producer course of Saotome Academy. At this Academy, she will be paired with someone from the idol course. Together, the pair will work together until graduation.When she arrives at Saotome, she soon discovers that there are six extremely dashing guys she can potentially partner with. This is a reverse harem series geared towards females. I still enjoyed watching it. It has a bit of an Ouran High School Host Club feel, although that isn’t a good analogy.

Double-J - In a school where after school activities are mandatory among all students, Hajime and her friend Sayo come across a new club that they have never seen before. The club is called "The Cultural Activity Preservation Club." The two enter the room to find all kinds of analog jobs and activities, such as handcrafting mats and toothpicks. This is a unique cultural manga mixed with comedy so as not to bore you, this is Double J! This is another short like Nyanpire. I am not sure if I will continue getting these, they aren’t as interesting as I hoped they would be.

The iDOLM@STER - Anime adaptation of the Idolmaster series of games in which players assume the role of producers and lead the Idols under their care to fame and stardom. This show is actually done like a dating sim. The Producer is the viewer and the characters react to him. All of his speech is text only. It may change after the first episode since they show the Producer at the end of episode one, and he speaks.

Mawaru Penguin Drum – There isn’t a description on AniDB or ANN, so I will tell you about the first episode. The threeTakakura siblings, two boys, Kanba and Shouma, and their sister Himari, live alone, it is implied that their parents are dead. Himari is diagnosed as chronically ill with only a few months at most to live. They all decide to spend what time she has left doing whatever she wants. They all go to the aquarium to see the penguins. While in the gift shop Himari finds a cute hat of an Emperor Penguin Queen which they purchase. Soon after Himari collapses and dies at the hospital. While the brothers are crying over her dead body and arguing at each other about what to do next, Himari suddenly sits up and starts to talk! Alien penguins have brought Himari back to life, but at what cost?

Eden of the East.I've been interested in it since seeing it's commercial ads on my Gurren Lagaan DVDs and was pleased to see it on Netflix a bit ago. I got around to watching the first episode, and was hooked after the first minute.(blah blah blaaaah~)While it may not answer every blooming question they pose, I don't believe it's intended to and instead is geared toward making the viewer use their brain some. With a mix of mystery, action and random romance, this anime harnesses conspiracy theory ideas since WWII up to 9/11 and the "present" with a "game" forced on 12 Japanese citizens. There's pretty funny humor in here, as well as the needed god-complex going on. After watching Death Note and getting annoyed at Light, this was a nice fresher tone and I have to say, Death Note doesn't make the cut. Too many episodes and too many characters are in Death Note. It's great for what it is, but this anime takes out the supernatural aspect and puts it more into the realistic joint of humans today.

I've been switching off between Fate/Stay Night and Durarara!! I like both of them a lot for different reasons

DRRR- It's just so... out there and over the top. I only started watching it because Baccano!! is in my top five favorite animes, and I'm glad I did. The plot line is all but not there and the pairings always make me go "What the heck?" but it's enjoyable and fun to watch.

F/SN- Only started watching this because I kept seeing pictures of Rider all over the place and wanted to know what she was like. I instantly fell in love. I'm only on episode 10, but it's an amazing anime and way worth my time. The art is absolutely gorgeous and the voice actors are superb (watching the dub)

I recently saw the first three episodes of High School of the Dead in English. I've gotta watch that show all the way through! I've only seen a couple here & there in Japanese, so I don't know how it ends yet.

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^ Lord knows I'm not a fan of disrespecting my beloved Ayako Kawasumi (who was one of the Queens Blade VAs)... but while I usually try to watch a full episode, to me the fanservice was so over-the-top that I couldn't watch a full episode. Did I give up too quickly, i.e. is the storyline in Queens Blade worth watching if you can make it through the first episode?

(And thanks for the warning about MoMH.. I was curious about it when I saw the title in passing the other day.)

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Currently re-watching and loving: Argento Soma. It has its weaknesses (a plot that drags, odd artwork) - but it's one of the better stories about loss and recovery. Not quite Kanon, but still good.

« Last Edit: January 06, 2012, 01:36:55 pm by @random »

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Cross Game. I would've never suspected I would like a baseball anime, but this one's got me hooked pretty good. It's right up there with any shoujo or josei anime for realistic interactions and emotions, and it's kinda sweet without being sappy. (^_^)

« Last Edit: January 19, 2012, 07:30:31 am by @random »

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This is my serious voice. Otherwise, I'm just another anime fan, not a moderator.

Cross Game. I would've never suspected I would like a baseball anime, but this one's got me hooked pretty good. It's right up there with any shoujo or josei anime for realistic interactions and emotions, and it's kinda sweet without being sappy. (^_^)

Currently reading Kakeyo Hitman Reborn, and so far, it's great. Now, I don't normally like action animes (or in my case, mangas) but this, along with Yuyuhakusho, it great. Of course, it's not as high up as Yuyuhakusho, but I enjoy it.